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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.rmit.EDU.AU!news.unimelb.EDU.AU!munnari.OZ.AU!news.hawaii.edu!ames!enews.sgi.com!sgigate.sgi.com!swrinde!cssun.mathcs.emory.edu!cc.gatech.edu!cc.gatech.edu!byron From: byron@cc.gatech.edu (Byron A Jeff) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.advocacy Subject: Re: Historic Opportunity facing Free Unix (was Re: The Lai/Baker paper, benchmarks, and the world of free UNIX) Date: 24 Apr 1996 12:56:26 GMT Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology - College of Computing Lines: 100 Message-ID: <4ll8dq$38b@solaria.cc.gatech.edu> References: <NELSON.96Apr15010553@ns.crynwr.com> <31784FD9.28AA98F6@lambert.org> <kevinbDqC0xC.99w@netcom.com> <4lkcv6$n4j@gorgias.uchicago.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: gemini.cc.gatech.edu NNTP-Posting-User: byron Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.development.system:22208 comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc:813 comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:3476 comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc:3332 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:18059 comp.os.linux.advocacy:46958 In article <4lkcv6$n4j@gorgias.uchicago.edu>, steve farrell <spfarrel@gorgias.uchicago.edu> wrote: > >i don't really agree with the idea of unix taking over the desktop. >here's my feeling: most people really are NOT computer-lovers. in fact, >computers really do suck in so many ways, and are such a pain in the >ass for what 90% of what people use them for. these people should >not be using computers - they never should have. the desktop computer >must have had a reason for coming into being, but it obviously is not >the best solution. most people don't want to know about plug and play >or about when copland comes out. they want communicators and word >processors and game machines and things like this. just a simple tool >that does whatever. NOT a "Computer". That's what we've all been saying. On the desktop it's all about applications. The hardware and system software underneath is really a black box to the average user. They wouldn't care if the engine was three gerbils running on a wheel as long as the job gets done. > >then there are other people who actually *like* computers and even work >with them for their living and then in their free time. these people >should use computers, and many of them (like myself) love to use computers >running unix. Bad distinction IMHO. If microsoft provided me an environment I liked to use I'd use it. But is has so many failings I simply cannot stand to use it. > >i'm not sure if java and the web are right technological solution, but the >concept i think is: have an interface that is simple to use and based on a >metaphor like netscape navigator. people -- either at home, in schools, >or at the office -- have something like these java-terminals which run >netscape 5.0 or whatever that IS their "desktop". productivity apps are >written in java and provided on a use-by-use basis or whatever by their >ISP or whatever it is called in the future (probably off some FreeBSD or >Linux box =). these client machines don't need to be setup any more than >a TV set, don't run an OS that does much more than allow the JVM to run & >the io for the cable-modem. and that's about it. A question: what happens when the cable goes out? you now have a useless piece of junk until the cable comes back. The unit must be able to function standalone. > >90% of the people who use computers would then use these simple terminals, >and the other 10% of us who actually like computers and like understanding >how they work, etc, will run free Unix. perfect world. Nope. We still have to deal and interoperate with the other 90%. > >i think it's crazy to expect unix to take over the desktop. why in >god's name should professors of english, secretaries, doctors, CEO's, >etc etc learn unix? Who said anything about learning Unix? This isn't about OS but applications. Question: If there were a version of Microsoft Office for Free Unix and you could get it for free how many folks would switch? Quite a few I belive. Very few Windows users understand how the OS works. And they could care less. We can build a simple to use Unix box with an X-based desktop. The only problem is that we don't have the application that the doctors, CEO, and whotnot need to do the job they want to do. > if they like computers this much, they'd be CS ppl >or programmers or whatever. i don't want to be in a world with that >many computer geeks, as much as i love them and i am one myself. and >who thinks this would happen, either? So let me get this straight: Unix = Computer Geek Microsoft = Not Computer Geek My wife is not a computer geek. However she uses Linux to get her work done. How does she fit into this equation? > >and as far as microsoft has the desktop -- who cares, the "desktop >computer" was a stupid idea in the first place. Why? It's a natural phase of computer evolution. Computers are continually getting smaller, more powerful, and cheaper. Having one on the desktop is inevatible. Segregation is a bad idea. usually the minority in a segregated society gets the short end of the stick. I see this happening here in the desktop. Any offering that isn't Microsoft based is looked down upon. We need to be able to interact with the 90%. All we need is the applications. We have the OS's already. BAJ -- Another random extraction from the mental bit stream of... Byron A. Jeff - PhD student operating in parallel - And Using Linux! Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332 Internet: byron@cc.gatech.edu